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SELECTION OF SPIDER PREY BY TRYPOXYLON POLITUM (SAY) (HYMENOPTERA: SPHECIDAE)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

B.G. Rehnberg
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 0W0

Abstract

More than 94% of all spiders captured by Trypoxylon politum (Say) were from three genera: Neoscona, Araneus, and Eustala. The contribution of these spider genera to provisions of T. politum in the eastern and southeastern United States was estimated as follows: Eustala, 17%; Araneus, 21%; and Neoscona, 59%. Provisions in early summer were dominated by Araneus marmoreus Clerck, Eustala sp., and Neoscona hentzii (Keyserling); in mid-summer by N. hentzii; and in late summer by A. marmoreus and Neoscona domiciliorum (Hentz). The proportions of juvenile, subadult, and adult spiders captured depended on the time of year and the developmental stage of the spider. Trypoxylon politum captured male and female subadults, and female adults, but took very few male adults. Trypoxylon politum was found to be stenophagous with respect to prey species and euryphagous with respect to prey size.

Résumé

Plus de 94% de toutes les araignées capturées par Trypoxylon politum (Say) appartenaient à trois genres : Neoscona, Araneus et Eustala. On a estimé la contribution de ces genres d’araignées aux provisions de T. politum dans les sud-est des Etats-Unis comme suit : Eustala, 17%; Araneus, 21%; et Neoscona, 59%. Au début de l’été, les provisions étaient dominées par Araneus marmoreus Clerck, Eustala sp., et Neoscona hentzii (Keyserling); au milieu de l’été par N. hentzii; et vers la fin de l’été par A. marmoreus et Neoscona domiciliorum (Hentz). Les proportions d’araignées juvéniles, sous-adultes et adultes capturées dépendaient du moment de l’année et du stade de développement de l’araignée. Trypoxylon politum a capturé des sous-adultes mâles et femelles, des adultes femelles, mais très peu d’adultes mâles. Trypoxylon politum est sténophage selon les espèces de ses proies, et euryphage selon leur taille.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1987

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